Infections have now been reported by 132 countries outside China. Trinidad and Tobago and Ghana reported their first cases, while Algeria, Azerbaijan, Greece, India, Norway and Poland had their first fatalities. The death toll in Iran, one of the hardest-hit countries outside China, crossed 500.
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN NUMBERS (UPDATED)
20.31 France reports 12 deaths today, French PM announces closure of restaurants, shops
France reported 91 coronavirus related deaths, up from 79 the previous day, Friday.
The Public Health Authority also confirmed 838 new cases reaching 4,499 on Saturday.
The French PM also announced the closure of cafes, restaurants, cinemas and shops.
20.30 Slovenia records first death
lovenia has recorded its first death due to coronavirus, national channel TV Slovenia said on Saturday, citing unofficial sources.
It said the victim was an elderly man with a chronic disease. The Ministry of Health gave no immediate comment.
20.27 Yemen suspends all flights for two weeks
Yemen’s Saudi-backed government said on Saturday it was suspending all flights to and from airports under its control for two weeks starting on March 18, amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
19.34 Norway to shut airports from Monday morning to stop coronavirus
Norway will temporarily shut all its airports from Monday 0800 CET (0700 GMT) in a move to curb the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on Saturday.
19.32 Trump takes coronavirus test, extends travel ban to Britain, Ireland
President Donald Trump has taken a coronavirus test but said on Saturday that his temperature was “totally normal”, and his administration extended a travel ban to Britain and Ireland to try to contain a pandemic that has shut down much of the daily routine of American life.
19.28 Egypt shuts schools, universities for two weeks
Egypt will close schools and universities for two weeks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as the number of cases rises each day, reaching 109 with two deaths, the prime minister said on Saturday.
18:57 Fauci says US has 20,226 cases but hasn’t ‘peaked’ yet
The top U.S. infectious diseases expert said on Saturday that the country has recorded 20,226 case of the new coronavirus, but has not yet reached the peak of the outbreak.
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Anthony Fauci said President Donald Trump’s declaration on Friday of a national emergency meant “now it’s all systems go” to ramp up testing in efforts to contain the pandemic.
18:33 Trump says he took test
US President Donald Trump said he took a coronavirus test on Friday but does not known when the results will return, he said on Saturday night.
He said his temperature has been checked and it is “totally normal”.
18:24 Death toll in Lombardy, Italy, rises to 966
The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Lombardy, the Italian region that has been worst affected by the crisis, rose to 966 on Saturday, an increase of 76 from the previous day, Giulio Gallera, the region’s senior health official said.
The number of new cases rose by 1,865 to 11,685, he told a news conference.
The latest national death toll is due to be released later in the day. On Friday, the Italy-wide tally stood at 1,266.
18:23 NY records first death, US toll rises to 48
An 82-year-old woman became New York’s first coronavirus fatality, authorities said on Saturday, after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and the spread of the pandemic shut down much of the daily routine of American life.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the woman, who had previously suffered from emphysema, was hospitalized in Manhattan on March 3. He told reporters that the state’s tally of cases had risen to 524. Nationwide, more than 2,000 people have been infected and 48 have died.
18:06 US to add Britain, Ireland to travel ban
The U.S. government is expected to announce on Saturday that it is expanding its travel ban on most European countries to include Britain and Ireland as it seeks to contain the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, airline and U.S. officials told Reuters.
U.S. President Donald Trump originally exempted Britain and Ireland from his 30-day ban on travelers from 26 European countries that took effect at midnight on Friday. More than 800 people in Britain have tested positive for the virus and more than 20 have died from COVID-19, the disease it causes.
16.46 Jordan tightens lockdown, shuts down airports
Jordan said it would stop all incoming and outgoing passenger flights into the country from Tuesday as it tightens border controls to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Announcing the move on Saturday, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said universities and schools would be closed for two weeks and all tourist sites and all sports and cinemas would also be shut.
16:22 Ten more deaths in England
Health authorities in England announced on Saturday a further 10 deaths caused by coronavirus, almost doubling the number of fatalities in Britain since Friday.
“I am sorry to confirm 10 further patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 in England have died,” Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said in a statement. “All 10 individuals were in the at-risk groups.”
16:05 Confirmed Dutch cases rise by 155 to 959
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands rose by 155 to 959, Dutch health authorities said on Saturday.
The number of deaths rose by 2 to a total of 12 from a day earlier, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in a statement.
15.28 Sana’a airport to close for two weeks
Yemen’s Houthis group announced on Saturday it would close Sana’a airport for two weeks, a measure that will affect flights operated by United Nations’ organisations taking part in relief efforts to the war-torn country.
15:10 Spain to impose nationwide lockdown – El Mundo
The Spanish government is to put the country under lockdown as part of its state of emergency measures meant to combat the coronavirus, several media including El Mundo and Cadena Ser reported on Saturday.
The government will say all Spaniards must stay home except to buy food or drugs, go to the hospital, go to work or other emergencies, El Mundo reported.
The paper reports Spain’s Interior Ministry will control all police forces, including local and regional ones, as part of the state of emergency.
14:47 ‘Stay home,’ Madrid authorities urge residents as cases spike
Authorities in Madrid urged people to stay home, the southern city of Seville announced the cancellation of hugely popular Holy Week celebrations and shops in several regions shut down on Saturday as Spain scrambled to try and fight the coronavirus.
Spain is the second-hardest hit country in Europe after Italy, with 5,753 cases recorded on Saturday, up by a third from Friday even as health authorities in Madrid, which has the highest number of cases, stopped testing people with only mild symptoms.
14.14 India suspends domestic soccer and cricket
India suspended domestic soccer until the end of this month while domestic cricket was put on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus on Saturday.
13.50 UK airline Jet2.com cancels flights to Spain
British budget airline Jet2.com cancelled all of its flights to Spain on Saturday after the country declared a state of emergency.
13.47 Seville suspends Easter processions
The mayor of the southern Spanish city of Seville said on Saturday Holy Week processions would be cancelled because of the coronavirus outbreak.
13:18 Greece reports two more fatalities
Greece said on Saturday it would suspend all flights that were still operating to and from Italy, after reporting two more fatalities from a coronavirus infection, raising the total number of deaths in the country to three.
The deceased were two men, aged 67 and 90, both with serious underlying health problems, the Health Ministry said. There were 190 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by late Friday.
Greece has shut schools, bars, cafes and shopping malls and has already suspended all flights to and from northern Italy until March 23 to combat the spread of coronavirus.
12.36 Cambodia bars entry from five countries as coronavirus cases increase
Cambodia has banned entry of visitors from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the U.S. to curb the spread of coronavirus.
The 30-day ban on “foreigners” will come into effect on March 17, the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Saturday as Cambodia recorded two new cases, bringing its tally to seven.
12.32 Iran coronavirus death toll rises by nearly one hundred to 611
The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran rose on Saturday to 611, state TV said, citing a health ministry official who put the total number of those diagnosed with the disease at 12,729.
12.30 Malaysia reports 41 new cases of coronavirus, all linked to religious event
Malaysia reported 41 new cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, all linked to a religious event on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur that was attended by about 10,000 people from several countries.
12.15 Greece reports two more coronavirus fatalities, toll rises to three
Greece reported two more fatalities from a coronavirus infection on Saturday, raising the total number of deaths in the country to three.
The deceased were two men, aged 67 and 90, both with serious underlying health problems, the Health Ministry said. There were 190 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Greece by late Friday.
12.10 Abu Dhabi to temporarily shut Louvre Abu Dhabi museum, Ferrari World
Abu Dhabi announced on Saturday it was shutting major tourism and cultural venues, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi museum and the Ferrari World theme park, from March 15-31,
11.44 Rwanda confirms first case of coronavirus
Rwanda has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, an Indian citizen who arrived in the East African nation from Mumbai on March 8, the Health Ministry said on Saturday.
11.28 Airline Swiss to ground half its fleet, cut work hours
Lufthansa subsidiary Swiss International is taking half its fleet out of service and reducing working hours for flight personnel to help safeguard its finances during the coronavirus outbreak, it said.
11.12 Morocco halts flights with Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Portugal
Morocco suspended flights to and from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Portugal the foreign ministry said on Saturday.
11.08 Philippines confirms 34 new coronavirus cases, full tally at 98
The Philippines reported on Saturday an additional 34 confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing total to 98 ahead of the implementation of quarantine measures in the capital Manila.
11.04 Namibia reports first two cases of coronavirus
Namibia reported its first two cases of coronavirus on Saturday, with a Spanish couple who arrived in the Southern African country on Wednesday both testing positive and quarantined, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula said.
10.53 Norway advises against all foreign travel amid virus outbreak
Norway on Saturday advised its citizens not to travel to any foreign country for the next month, while Norwegians currently abroad should consider returning home as soon as possible amid the coronavirus outbreak, the foreign ministry said.
09.45 UK to move to ban mass gatherings next week
Britain’s government will introduce emergency laws next week to ban mass gatherings in an attempt to curb the coronavirus outbreak, an escalation of its crisis plan which critics had said was too relaxed.
09.24 Moscow makes school attendance optional
Moscow will make school attendance optional starting on Monday in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, its mayor said on Saturday.
08.45 Indonesian capital closes schools for two weeks
Indonesia’s capital city will close all schools and ordered remote teaching for at least two weeks starting next week to curb the spread of the coronavirus
06.29 Colombia to turn away visitors who have stayed in Asia, Europe in last two weeks
Colombia will close its borders with Venezuela and stop visitors who have been in Europe or Asia from entering the country, President Ivan Duque said
05.23 Saudi Arabia suspends international flights for two weeks
Saudi Arabia has suspended all international flights for two weeks, starting Sunday, to prevent the spread of coronavirus, state news agency SPA said on Saturday, citing an official source at interior ministry.
04.59 Czech government closing most shops, restaurants
The Czech government will shut most shops and restaurants from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday as part of measures to contain the spread of the new coronavirus, it said in an overnight statement.
04.36 Mainland China reports 11 new coronavirus cases
Mainland China had 11 new confirmed cases of coronavirus infections on March 13, the country’s National Health Commission said on Saturday, up from eight cases a day earlier.
04.19 Philippines records one new coronavirus death, raises toll to six
The Philippines health department on Saturday confirmed one new fatality from the coronavirus outbreak, bringing the total number of deaths to six, a day after the country raised its health emergency status to the highest level.
03.10 S.Korea reports 107 new coronavirus cases, total 8,086
South Korea reported 107 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the country’s total infections to 8,086, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.
02.40 Guatemala bans arrivals from U.S., Canada
Guatemala has extended a ban on arrivals from countries more heavily affected by the coronavirus outbreak to include the United States and Canada, President Alejandro Giammattei said
01.46 Mauritania confirms first coronavirus case
Mauritania’s health ministry confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the West African country in a statement
00.54 IMF, World Bank staff to work from home
The International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group advised their Washington headquarters staff to work from home after an IMF employee was diagnosed with COVID-19
00.51 Eswatini in Southern Africa reports first coronavirus case
Eswatini, a small, land-locked Southern African country, reported its first confirmed case of coronavirus, the minister of health said in a statement on Saturday.
00.15 Ireland cautions citizens about travel to other EU states
Ireland advised its citizens on Friday to exercise a high degree of caution before deciding to travel to other European Union members states due to action over the spread of the coronavirus, the country’s foreign minister said.
00.05 Trump says he will be tested for coronavirus
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday reversed course and said he would get tested for the coronavirus, days after he stood next to a Brazilian official who tested positive for virus.
00.03 Oslo’s airport shuts gates to foreign travellers
Travellers from countries outside the Nordics arriving at the Norwegian capital’s main airport will not be admitted into the country, the municipality where the airport is located said on Friday.
LATE FRIDAY EVENING
Washington state’s death jumps to 37
The death toll in Washington state from coronavirus has surged by six to a total of 37, Governor Jay Inslee said on Friday as he issued new executive orders intended to reduce the spread of the respiratory illness.
Poland to close borders to foreigners, quarantine returnees
Poland will ban foreigners from entering the country from Sunday and impose a 14-day quarantine on its citizens returning home in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday.
Hungary will close all schools to slow coronavirus
Hungary will close all schools and continue education as best as it can via digital channels from Monday to try and slow the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said
Kosovo confirms first coronavirus cases
Kosovo reported its first coronavirus cases on Friday, in a 20-year-old Italian woman and a 77-year-old Kosovar man.
FIFA recommends March, April internationals be postponed
FIFA has recommended that all international matches scheduled to be played in March and April be postponed because of the coronavirus, the global soccer body said in a statement
Air France-KLM Dutch subsidiary to cut 1500 jobs
KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France KLM, plans to request government support to cut the working hours of its entire staff of 35,000 by a third starting in April, Dutch broadcaster RTL reported on Friday.
Egypt reports 13 new bringing total to 93
Egypt reported on Friday 13 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total of cases detected in the country to 93, the health ministry said in a statement.
Spain’s Catalonia requests regional lockdown over coronavirus
The regional government of Spain’s Catalonia asked Spanish central authorities to help it block access by air, rail and water to guarantee the confinement of the whole region due to the coronavirus epidemic, regional leader Quim Torra said.
